Asked on May 26, 2014

Seeking advice for this problem area

C & S Creations
by C & S Creations
We have a problem area in our back yard that tends to drown out every spring. This is an area right at the bottom of our deck steps and near an egress window well which makes adding fill another problem. Any suggestions on what to do to fix this would be greatly appreciated.
  6 answers
  • Patricia Brining Patricia Brining on May 26, 2014
    I would keep coming on out with the gravel or rock beside the house =dig out first so the level is down even with other surface . Bring it all the way back and join onto other walk area! This will make it an area to absorb water so its not a muddy mess. You can also dig it out and put in sod to see if it will stay established. Your problem might be that the water pushes out the seed or birds get it before it can root. Good Luck!
  • Funnygirl Funnygirl on May 26, 2014
    If your yaRd is too sandy add loam.why not build a garden /vegetable plot in that spot instead do grass
  • Pamela Pamela on May 26, 2014
    How about a 'Rain Garden'? These are designed to help with standing water issues and make your yard lovely at the same time. The plants help to divert the excess water and help to alleviate that standing water issue. Here is a link you can check out: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/how-to/intro/0,,20517496,00.html
  • I would extend the rock all the away around, put down some stepping stones to form a walkway/path to whereever the steps would direct you to, and then add a few low lying plans that like poor soil conditions. Maybe a few small clumps of hosta and some ground cover. If you want to address just the grass issue, I would loosen up the soil that is there with a tiller, lay down some better soil just in that area, then spread a heavy layer of grass seed to fill it all in and then water, water, water.
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on May 27, 2014
    Soil sometimes gets so compacted it becomes almost like concrete. In order to "treat" a small space, you do not need to go to elaborate means. Dig down a couple of inches and take out the dirt...set it aside. Then put in some landscape timbers as an edger and then place flat stones to make a walking path (I would fit stones together in an irregular pattern). Then fill with the bad soil on the inside and then top soil on the outside of the timbers. Spread some grass seed on the outside. On other spots where you have no grass, scrap out the bad soil and add a couple of inches of top soil and some seed. Cover lightly with wheat straw and mist daily until it germinates. You can actually take top soil and sprinkle it lightly over your grass to help with the soil...don't cover the grass, just sprinkle it around occasionally! A project like this can lead to a beautiful yard. Limit the amount of grass you have and make non grassy areas.
  • Essie Bell Essie Bell on May 27, 2014
    I solved my problem. Dig out 6" soil filled with wood chips